Boxy Beauty

Creation on Display

That blunt nose and blocky body make the boxfish
a picture of speed. It’s a piscine Porsche, the
Corvette of the coral reef, a Ferrari with fins!

Eh . . . not so much.

While it may look more like an underwater ice
cream truck, the boxfish’s square design has distinct
advantages over its sleek competitors. Its boxy shape
is composed of precisely interlocking armor plates
that make it a difficult meal for predators. And that
armor has to be really good because the boxfish’s
ungainly shape makes escaping nearly impossible.

Or does it?

The square profile means that without constant
adjustments from its fins the boxfish would careen
out of control around the reef, and that flat nose is
the opposite of streamlined. But while it may not
win any straight-line speed records, the boxfish’s
radically unsteady design makes for blindingly fast
cornering. It’s perfect for darting in and out of safe
hiding places in the coral reef.

So while the boxfish may seem ungainly, it’s built
perfectly for the place where God put it. And as a
bonus, its unique shape and bright colors make it a
delightful reminder of God’s creativity.